Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/china/article/1739437/guangzhou-rf-host-seongnam-crunch-asian-champions-league-game China
Guangzhou R&F host Seongnam in crunch Asian Champions League game
Champions League matches this week will be pivotal to China’s four teams reaching the last 16
Guangzhou R&F defeated Japan's Gamba Osaka earlier in the campaign. Photo: AFP
Teams from China, and particularly those from the southern city of Guangzhou, have a knack of adapting well to life in the AFC Champions League.
Guangzhou Evergrande won the continental title, China’s first since 1990, less than 18 months ago in just their second AFC Champions League appearance having reached the quarter-finals on their debut a year earlier.
And cross-city rivals Guangzhou R&F had seemingly proven they deserve their place at Asia’s top table, having finished third in the Chinese Super League (CSL) last year to earn their continental debut, after brushing aside both Singapore’s Warriors FC and Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in the play-offs before stunning Japanese treble winners Gamba Osaka 2-0 in their group F opener last month.
But after losing 2-1 at home to Thailand champions Buriram United two weeks ago, Guangzhou R&F welcome South Korea’s Seongnam FC to Yuexiu Stadium tonight having slipped to third place in group F heading towards the halfway mark of the group stage with Cosmin Contra’s side level on points with their second-placed opponents. 
“This is a crucial match for us,” said Guangzhou R&F’s Romanian coach Contra, who saw his side lose 1-0 at home to Shanghai Shenhua in the CSL on Friday.
Guangzhou R&F are making their debut in the ACL this season. Photo: AFP
“If we can’t win this game, we will have serious problems in qualification.
“We don’t want to lose again at home. We’ve lost two home games in a row; we can’t afford to lose one more.”
If we can’t win this game, we will have serious problems in qualification
Guangzhou R&F will be without Lu Lin due to suspension after the midfielder picked up a second yellow card of the campaign following his opening goal in the defeat by Buriram.
Fellow CSL sides Beijing Guoan and Shandong Luneng are also in continental action today, while Guangzhou Evergrande entertain Japan’s Kashima Antlers tomorrow with the 2013 champions boasting a 100 per cent record after recording back-to-back wins in group H. 
Beijing, who finished second behind Guangzhou in the Super League last year, also find themselves at the top of their group with a perfect record ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.
Thailand's Buriram United beat Guangzhou R&F on their own patch last time out. Photo: Xinhua
We’ve lost two home games in a row; we can’t afford to lose one more
Gregorio Manzano’s side, who have progressed beyond the group stage of the competition just twice in six AFC Champions League appearances, have won all of their six competitive games in all competitions this year after beating Henan Jianye 1-0 on Friday.
FA Cup holders Shandong, meanwhile, travel to Japan to face joint group E leaders Kashiwa Reysol sitting a point off the pace, but are looking to bounce back from losing 4-1 at home to Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors last time out in the AFC Champions League.
But Shandong – who also reached the quarter-finals on their continental debut in 2005 – will be without two key players in defender Dai Lin and the suspended striker Yang Xu, who has scored three goals in two games.